[uh-'droit] adj - expert or nimble in the use of the hands or body. Syn - skillful, clever, deft, apt, adept. The adroit musician could play the guitar for hours without tiring or running out of ideas.

partisan

['pahr-tuh-zuhn] noun - an adherent or supporter of a person, group, party, or cause, esp. a person who shows a biased, emotional allegiance. Despite his normally logical demeanor, Jason was incapable of reacting to political arguments as anything other than the partisan that he had been raised to be.

monologue

['mon-uh-lawg] noun - a prolonged talk or discourse by a single speaker, esp. one dominating or monopolizing a conversation. My father has very strong opinions on everything and loves to lecture, so be careful what you say because he is likely to launch into a monologue at any moment.

emollient

[ih-'mol-yuhnt] adj - having the power of softening or relaxing, as a medicinal substance; soothing, esp. to the skin. Syn - relieving, palliative, healing, assuasive. As part of her regular bedtime routine, Linda often applied an emollient to her skin to help her relax at the end of a long day.

montage

[mon-'tahzh] noun - the technique of combining in a single composition pictorial elements from various sources, as parts of different photographs or fragments of printing, either to give the illusion that the elements belonged together originally or to allow each element to retain its separate identity as a means of adding interest or meaning to the composition. In our newest work of art, we combine up to 30 photos in a dramatic montage and print it onto canvas.

monolith

['mon-uh-lith] noun - an obelisk, column, large statue, etc., formed of a single block of stone. Mount Augustus in Australia is often called the largest monolith in the world.

monogamy

[muh-'nog-uh-mee] noun - marriage with only one person at a time. Every survey ever done on this question shows that a most people think monogamy is important to marriage and that affairs are wrong.

1. As Harold began to perform, the audience members stared at him. They were obviously waiting for the punch line. As he delivered the lines, he wondered if he had made the right decision. Doing stand-up comedy at the “Open Mic” night at the comedy club had seemed like such a good idea before. Now, he could only hope that the audience would laugh at his prepared _____________.

A. epigone
B. votarist
C. montage
D. partition
E. monologue

2. Sofia was proud of her cooking skills. She had worked hard in culinary school and had finished at the top of her class. For some reason, however, it made her nervous to cook for her parents. Shaking off the nerves, she focused on the breakfast she was preparing. With a(n) _____________ flick of the wrist, Sofia flipped the omelet into the air and landed it squarely back in the pan.

A. bemused
B. adroit
C. emollient
D. incompetent
E. amateur

3. Evan was the top student in the Philosophy department. He was brilliant. Sometimes when he left a class, he would spend the next hour or so wandering around campus _____________ the problems posed by the professor. He would often become so lost in thought that he would forget to go to his next class. He was known all over campus as the young man who always wandered around campus with a(n) _____________ look on his face.

4. Two years of searching for a job had taken a toll on Robert. The economic conditions had made it impossible for him to find employment. He was overqualified for entry-level jobs and did not have the resume for executive jobs. His years of work as a middle manager added up to a mediocre resume. This realization had profound effects on his previously sunny disposition. He was now a moody and _____________ man who was unpleasant to be around at any time.

A. delighted
B. complaisantC. bemused
D. choleric
E. diaphanous

5. Brandon was immediately interested as he passed a beautifully dressed stranger on the side of the road. Her outfit was so _____________ decorated and stood out in contrast to his utilitarian American attire. Each garment seemed to tell a story. The combination of the incredible modes of dress in this country and the physical beauty of the people affected him deeply. Brandon caught a glimpse of the girl through her _____________ veil, and what he saw was a picture of exquisite beauty.